The Chicago Tribune reports that a source has told them that Governor Blagojevich was taken into custody at his home on the north side of Chicago this morning. We're waiting for details.
UPDATE: WLS Radio is reporting that the story is confirmed. The governor and his chief of staff, John Harris, were taken into custody. There will be a news conference at 11 A.M.
UPDATE: The Trib now has additional information:
The stunning, early morning visit by authorities to the governor's North Side home came amid revelations that federal investigators had recorded the governor with the cooperation of a longtime confidant and had begun to focus on the possibility that the process of choosing a Senate successor to President-elect Barack Obama could be tainted by pay-to-play politics.UPDATE: Capital Fax now has the charges from the U.S. Attorney,
Blagojevich was taken into custody hours after the Tribune reported that the investigation into allegations of pay-to-play politics within his administration had been expanded to include his pending choice of a Senate replacement for Obama. The Democratic governor has said he expects to make a decision on the state's next senator in weeks.
UPDATE (9:37 AM): The Northern District USDOJ just issued a press release (PDF document) on their website. The criminal complaint (also PDF) against Blagojevich and Harris is also available there. (See USDOJ Northern District Chicago Press Room.)
***FULL TEXT OF THE DOJ PRESS RELEASE AVAILABLE BELOW.
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